Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Happy holidays to you and yours! With an endless choice of toys for parents to choose from, holiday shopping can be utterly overwhelming. Here are our top 10 picks for great toys for the consciously minded kids in you life (ages toddler - 10 year of age).

“Flower Child” DVD - $19.95

A children’s DVD designed to introduce children ages 2–8 to poetry with music and beautiful visuals. Featuring poetry from Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Karla Kuskin, and other classic and contemporary poets, “Flower Child” is a joy to watch while sneaking in a little learning. Available at www.gigglefishgifts.com

Paradice - A Game of Give and Take - $69.00

A beautiful work of art in sustainable wood, Paradice is a fascinating game where humans need to see eye to eye to protect their world and make it a better place. Paradice is a world like Earth where human beings live in and depend on the vitality of their forest environment. Available at www.gigglefish.com

Animal Farm - $18.00

Adorable chickens,pigs,dogs & cows offer kids a fun way to learn about rules and how to follow them. Parents decide how they want to play the game by sorting color, shape or animal. Or let your child's imaginations soar by creating stories with the charming figurines. A great early learning game. Available at www.gigglefishgifts.comMajestic Oak Puzzle - $14.99

Made from plantation-grown rubberwood non-splintering hardwood. Hand-painted using brightly-colored. A beautiful and unusual puzzle, one in a wide selection of many collection worthy. Available at www.imagiplay.com

Animal Alphabet Puzzle - $45.99

A is for Alligator, B is for Bear, C is for Cat, D is for Dolphin, E is for Elephant, F is for Flamingo, G is for Giraffe, H is for Hen, I is for Iguana, J is for Jaguar, K is for Kangaroo, L is for Lion, M is for Monkey etc etc. Fun way to learn the alphabet, while beautiful to have on a shelf. Available at www.imagiplay.com

Huggy's Sluggy's - $34.95Silly and adorable organic plush toy characters with companion books on environmental awareness for the youngest environmentalist. Available at www.huggysluggys.com

Solar Powered Car Book (Kit) - $19.95

Brought to you by the folks at KLUTZ, this Solar Car Book is full of illuminating solar science facts and comes with everything you need to build a cool solar race car: wheels, axles, motors, wires and a genuine one-volt solar cell. No glue, no nails, no tape and (best of all) no batteries required. Build this car today, and it will run forever, thanks to that big battery in the sky. For ages 8 and up. Available at www.fatbraintoys.com

Make Your Own Chewing Gum ! - $9.95

Make your own chewing gum, with chicle, the sap of the Sapodilla tree that grows in the rain forests of Central America. Also available in "Make Your Own Chocolate" and "Make Your Own Gummies." Everything you need is included in this kit and it's easy! Available at www.katescaringgifts.comPlanetarium Garden Lab - $23.95

Using a nutritive and non-toxic gel created by Globus International in collaboration with NASA scientists, Planetariums capture the miracle of a plant growing from its seed. The gel's transparency allows you to watch plants grow both above and below the surface. What's more: when the plant reaches the top of its Planetarium, it can be transplanted into the pots provided to further development. The new Planetarium Garden Lab includes seeds for three different plants basil, cucumber, and tomato and three plastic greenhouses (4.75 H x 1.75 W x 1 D) each with a different colored gel. Available at www.fatbraintoys.com

KAPLA Building Set - $59.95

An amazing building set made from recycled materials. Hours of fun and creativity guaranteed. Winner of countless awards. Available at www.fatbraintoys.com